LAKEWOOD, COLORADO -- This company SUCKS !!! I had a deer jump out in front of my car which crushed the hood and grille and pushed it in about 12 inches. Safeco was my insurance company. The Safeco representative said it was totaled and was emphatic that it COULDN'T be repaired. Yes, yes it could have been repaired because I've had a very similar accident repaired and I spent 3 years in auto mechanics.

The reason he said that is because the repairs would have been above $5000 and instead of shelling out money to fix my car (you know, the reason I pay money monthly to my auto insurance) they wanted to screw me so they said it couldn't be fixed. The Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds values for my vehicle were around $5000. Safeco said they don’t use those figures (of course not, why would they use recognized values), they said they pay street value. I found 6 vehicles like mine on Autotrader, IN MY AREA (they were all whiny about that too), and none were selling for less than $6000. Safeco kept insisting that this wasn’t street value and kept offering me $2000 for my car.

So they will ignore any evidence you have as to the value of your vehicle and insist that it is worth far less, because hey, we excel at screwing our customers. I said I was going to talk to an attorney, which I did. None wanted anything to do with the case because it wasn’t an auto accident where I was injured. If any attorneys are reading this, could you please specialize in suing auto insurance companies in this niche. Anyway, I got screwed by Safeco and after receiving the money immediately switched insurance companies.

The whole experience made me furious. I would be willing to pay lots more for auto insurance at another company than to go with Safeco because when you need them, they’re just going to screw you. How exactly do you replace your $6000 car with $2000 ?!?!? Stay far away from this company.

I was paying $359 for a six month policy with Progressive, but after checking out the rates of other companies online, I decided to switch to Safeco because they quoted me a six month policy for $294. I truthfully and completely filled out the online application, disclosing the only blemish on my driving record, which was a speeding ticket (63 MPH in a 55 MPH zone) which I received 3 years ago in New Jersey.

I cancelled my policy with Progressive and started my new policy with Safeco on February 9, 2009. On February 17th, a little more than a week later, Safeco increased my premium by $305 to $599! This is more than double the price that they initially offered me! When I called them up to ask why my premium was being doubled, they told me that it was because of a moving violation which I failed to disclose on my application. When I asked them the specifics of the moving violation which I allegedly failed to disclosed to them, I found out it was the 3 year old speeding ticket which I had in fact told them about!

I protested this ridiculous "bait and switch" premium increase and asked them to restore my original premium quote, but they wouldn’t budge. They told me that I could simply wait until my policy renewal in August for the moving violation to come off of my record (moving violations remain on your insurance record for 3 years and 3 months) and my renewal premium would decrease. I told them that I would not pay any additional premiums, and I notified them that I would find another insurance company.

After doing some more research, I got a six month insurance premium quote from GEICO for $319. After making sure that they were aware of my motor vehicle record, and that the premium quoted would not mysteriously increase after the start of my policy, On March 9th, I cancelled my automobile insurance policy with Safeco, and started my new policy with GEICO. Even though it has been less than 2 weeks since I became a GEICO customer, I have not yet had any problems or any premium increases from them.

I have one word of advice to anyone who is contemplating switching their automobile insurance company to Safeco based on a cheaper premium quote... DON'T!

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Safeco Auto Insurance Slow and Incompetent-Boycott SafeCo

Posted by Ed on 09/19/2013

Rating: 1/51

LITT, ARKANSAS -- One of their insured drivers pulled out in front of me at the last moment. I was unable to to stop and hit him. The impact was enough to push his vehicle into another vehicle. Their insured driver was cited from an illegal left turn and failure to yield right of way. The police officer that worked the accident placed the fault with Safeco's insured driver. The person who was driving the 3rd vehicle involved also states the Safeco insured driver was at fault. The evidence is conclusive and is not disputable. Yet, Safeco has been extremely slow and is of the opinion it is not responsible to provide a rental vehicle. As a matter of fact, I have attempted to contact them via email and phone leaving voice mails with their claims personnel and manager. I have never received a response from their manager and their claims representative takes more than 30 hours to respond.

I have been driving for more than 30 years. I have had only 3 other incidents in this duration. All 3 incidents where determined the other driver's fault. This company, is by far the worst I have dealt with. They don't deserve even a single star.

I recommend a complete boycott of all products and services they provide. They don't deserve to be in business.

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Failure to Refund Monies After Cancellation

Posted by Peter on 05/31/2012

Rating: 1/51

ALLEN, TEXAS -- We received a mail solicitation from "Select Insurance Services" in Allen, TX regarding lowering our home and auto insurance premiums. Ron [snip] of Select Insurance Service provided a quote backed by Safeco Inc. which offered a saving of over $700. We decided to switch insurance carriers. One week later we received notice that our auto premium was being increased by $1400 which was a net loss of around $700. We immediately switch our insurance coverage back to our original provider and cancelled coverage with Safeco Inc. with no gap in coverage. Ever sine cancelling back in early May we have made repeated attempts to get a full refund. We were originally told we would receive a full refund. Then we were told that the agent "Ron [snip]" was blocking the refund, but to get it we needed to submit paperwork from the insurance company indicating no gap in coverage. We submitted that paper work and one week later were told that they needed a written letter asking for the cancellation. We submitted that. One week later we were told that the letter was not hand signed. We are submitting that today and fully expect that we will be told that we are missing something else. In short this company is trying their very hardest to keep our money. In response I am trying everything I can do to let others know that this is NOT the type of company that you will be happy to have done business with. I strongly recommend that you take your business elsewhere.

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Bait and switch

Posted by jefeg on 08/22/2010

I will add to the "bait and switch" complaints posted about Safeco auto insurance. I switched both home and auto to Safeco after I was quoted low rates. I cancelled my old insurance, sent my check in to Safeco, and then 2 weeks later received a 40% premium increase in the mail, on the day my policy started! No phone call, no time to change my mind. They stated that they found a fender bender on my record, but we had informed them about it, and at the time of the quote they had access to all info. Then, the agent would not answer or return my calls. I finally got partial resolution after speaking with a supervisor.
Find another company that is more ethical if you can, although its probably impossible.

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Safeco wants your premiums but won't pay for a claim

Posted by sovuka on 08/24/2009

I am extremely angry, distressed, and disillusioned by the customer service I have received from Safeco.

Having paid my auto premiums including "good driver" discount for 5-7 years, I believe I should have more humane treatment when I make a first time, rather small claim, for a non-medical, single party accident. I have paid far more in premiums than the $2000 claim I have requested. Safeco has already spent more on sales reps, customer service people (I have spoken to seven--very pleasant people), inspection reps, attorneys, etc. just to try to deny my claim. It has been almost three months since my accident and the car is still not repaired--thus I am inconvenienced without a drivable car.
I note that their literature says "Our first concern is getting your auto claim resolved as quickly as possible" and "welcome to an easier experience with Safeco" and "we appreciate your business and the trust that you have placed in us." My experience with them has been quite the opposite, not to mention distressful and frustrating.

I could go on and on but my main reason for posting, is to warn others not use Safeco (and now Liberty Mutual)for insurance because if you have a claim, Safeco will go out of their way to make it as painful as possible. There are plenty of other fish in the sea and I intend to go fishing as soon as possible.

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Auto insurance a license to steal

Posted by Sen Hatrack on 06/12/2009

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- In the state of Minnesota there is a law that requires drivers to have auto insurance. While having auto insurance is a good idea it gives the auto insurance companies the power to extort money. I recently bought an auto insurance policyfrom Safeco because they quoted a low rate. Shortly after I paid in full for six months of coverage Safeco "discovered" what it said was an at fault accident on my driving record. For that Safeco was going to charge me another $100. Then Safco found another reason to double my rates.

All payments to Safeco must be made with an automatic withdrawal from your bank account. I don't like to do business that way and tried to stop the automatic withdrawal from my bank account. I could not get in touch with a human being when I tried to talk with Safeco about it. To stop the automatic withdrawal I put a stop payment on any withdrawals by Safeco from my account. This caused my insurance to be cancelled. Now after a full payment for six months of coverage, at the originally quoted price, but only having coverage for three months Safeco sent me a bill for $25!

Rather I owning Safeco $25 it is Safeco that owes me money. Safeco cancelled my insurance after three months when I had paid for six months. Safeco owes me for the three months I paid for but Safeco has decided not to provide coverage for. Will I ever get a refund from Safeco? I doubt it.

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Low Ball Appraisal Of Classic Vehicle

Posted by Steve on 01/01/2009

I had an insured Safeco driver hit me from behind at about 60 MPH. I was lucky to be moving at 40 MPH or I would have been severely injured. Hit me hard enough to shatter the back window. It was a rainy night and he said he lost control on a curve. He had bald tires. I stopped and he almost hit me again. I think he fell asleep at the wheel.

I have a lower back injury and they offered me $ 1300 to salvage my vehicle. The cost to repair was estimated at $ 2700. It is a rare vehicle . I can find only 2 like it, they are going for $ 4500 and $10500. The value they offered is less than 1/3 of the true value. I have sent them the values, they will not respond. I have fixed the back window and driving it. Has cosmetic damage only.

I had this vehicle about 80 % restored. What a cold hearted, screw the hurt party, this company is. I just want the vehicle repaired. I will not accept a salvage title.

I will do all I can to show what a bad faith company Safeco is. I take this vehicle to a lot of car shows, I will have a flier up near the damage with the Safeco company Logo and the story of their lack of any ethics and refusal to do the right thing and fix the truck. I plan to sue the driver and let him fight with the lowlife company.

I have never felt more cheated in my life. This company should not even be in the insurance business.

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Unwarranted Premium increase during the policy term

Posted by pravinkn on 06/28/2008

PLANO, TEXAS -- Hi Safeco,
I moved my Auto Insurance to Safeco (together with my home insurance) with effect from June 18. My auto insurance was with Geico earlier.

I went through an Insurance agent in my area who quoted me a premium of 364 $ for my two cars. I paid the premium and both my home and Auto policies were issued.

Today, ten days after the two policies have been in effect since June 18th, I get a letter from my Insurance agent that My policy has been placed in an Alternate Program and my Premium has increased by 284 $ to 648 $.

Is this something legitimate to do. I can understand if the premium went for the following six month term.